Bengaluru, September 10 (TNA) The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) organised a five-day filmmaking workshop ahead of its “Cinemates 4.0” event, with Kannada director, writer and actor Aadarsh Eshwarappa as the resource person. The workshop, held as a prelude to the September 18 programme, featured two focused sessions: “The Screenplay as a Blueprint” and “Writing Beyond the Page”.
During the first session, Eshwarappa explained how a written idea is transformed into a visual story, stressing that a screenplay must communicate primarily through what the audience can see and hear. Drawing on examples from his films Shuddhi and Bhinna, he discussed screenplay structure, dialogue, visual storytelling, subtext and character development. “What makes a screenplay more than just a written version of a film is the conviction of the writer. We have to deeply connect with the story ourselves before we can expect the audience to connect with it,” he said.
He underlined the need for emotionally engaging characters. “For me, the most important element of a screenplay is a character the audience can root for. No matter how great the story is, if the audience doesn’t connect with the character, they will disconnect from the film,” Eshwarappa said, adding that strong characters must face obstacles and undergo change by the end of the story.
The session also covered research and preparation. “When I have done enough groundwork, the film begins to reveal itself as I write. I am almost watching the film for the first time myself, and that is one of the most exciting parts of screenwriting,” he said, noting that research remains crucial even when writers draw from their own lives. On adapting stories across languages, he said it is not just about translating dialogue but understanding culture and, when needed, bringing in someone who has lived that culture to shape the adaptation. Students were also introduced to resources such as The Internet Movie Script Database (IMSDb) and screenplay-writing software.
The second session, “Writing Beyond the Page”, focused on the link between screenwriting and editing. Eshwarappa described editing as an underrated but vital skill for writers. “Editing is a very underrated skill, but it is extremely important for a screenwriter. When we understand the editing pattern while writing, we not only make the story more efficient, but also save time and money during production,” he said.
He explained that writers do not need to show every moment of a character’s journey. “The real skill is knowing what to cut, what to retain, and how to move the audience through time without making the experience feel repetitive,” he said, touching on match cuts, transitions and sound design. “Sound design is different from music; it is a storytelling element in itself. The right sound can influence the mood, strengthen a transition, and make a scene far more immersive,” Eshwarappa added.
On documentary filmmaking, he highlighted the challenge of working with real events. “In documentary filmmaking, we cannot ask reality to repeat itself for the camera. The challenge is to work with what actually happened and find the moments that create the strongest rhythm and emotional beat,” he said, noting that documentary editing is about finding the story within the footage and knowing what to leave out.
Reflecting on his journey, Eshwarappa identified patience as a key lesson. “Patience is the biggest lesson filmmaking has taught me. Whether we are writing or shooting, things will not always go according to plan. We have to remain calm and work through the difficult phases,” he said. He also shared that teaching has sharpened his own writing. “Teaching screenplay workshops has made me a better screenwriter. When we teach the craft, we become more conscious of the rules and techniques that we need to follow in our own writing,” he said.
Addressing aspiring filmmakers, he concluded: “Learn the craft before you get into filmmaking. Screenwriting is a craft, editing is a craft, and filmmaking is a craft. Learn the fundamentals, make short films, gain experience and then take the next step.”
Bhargavi D Hemmige, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the workshop underscored the role of hands-on learning. “Cinemates 4.0 is a unique initiative that completely redefines how we learn and what we learn. Through experiential learning, filmmakers come in, showcase their work and share how they actually created it. This gives our students the confidence to experiment with visual filmmaking themselves,” she said. The workshop is part of the lead-up to Cinemates 4.0, scheduled for September 18, 2026.